You can bet if it were Republicans they'd be crying for their heads!
Why be part of the solution when there is so much to be gained from prolonging the problem?
LaPierre said something along the lines of, "DemocRATS are comfortable with a certain level of gun violence in order to keep gun-control alive as a political issue."
Obviously this can be applied to many political issues. Abortion, poverty, racism, out-of-wedlock (how come we can't just say illegitimate?) births, pollution, welfare, etc., etc., ad nauseum, ad infinitum.
It will be interesting to see how much hay the right-wing dominated news media makes of this.
FRom Yahoo!
http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=us&cat=democratic_party
EXCEPTS FROM DEMOCRATIC STUDY GROUP DISCUSSION
July 21, 2003
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Nunez]: Hannah-Beth, are you saying that if we dont take it to the point if we dont get more revenues, we do not support a budget that has an additional $1.5 billion worth of cuts. At least to start it off at the point of discussion
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: the question is how are they going to formulate the budget they are going to send over to us. Wheres the next $1.5 billion in cuts going to come from?
* * *
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Nunez]: I understand that, Hannah-Beth. My point is, given that we know we are not going to get new revenues the, is what were saying that we just want to have input as to where those cuts are going to be or are we saying we dont support cuts that deeply into this budget .
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: The question is, I think were looking at $1.5 billion worth of cuts
* * *
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Dymally]: Hannah-Beth, what are we asking, what are we saying to the Senate folks?
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: We want to know what your plan is what are you proposing? the reality is that when the Senate sends it over to us, it is going it is going to be a problem in 04-05. We want them to respect our input so that we can go out when we do get a budget .
* * *
Assemblymember Nunez: No. But, you know, theres a very responsible perspective to that, in that precipitating the crisis does not necessarily mean that -- if youre thinking about this is, the strategy for the 55 percent, all the polls, all the polls suggest that if you dont have a budget, that it lent itself to help support the effort for the 55 percent. Thats what the proponents say -CTA and the others - are saying about that. In addition, in terms of the recall, the extent to which the Governor can do a good job of making a connection between having no budget and the1
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Nunez]: Hannah-Beth, are you saying that if we dont take it to the point if we dont get more revenues, we do not support a budget that has an additional $1.5 billion worth of cuts. At least to start it off at the point of discussion
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: the question is how are they going to formulate the budget they are going to send over to us. Wheres the next $1.5 billion in cuts going to come from?
* * *
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Nunez]: I understand that, Hannah-Beth. My point is, given that we know we are not going to get new revenues the, is what were saying that we just want to have input as to where those cuts are going to be or are we saying we dont support cuts that deeply into this budget .
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: The question is, I think were looking at $1.5 billion worth of cuts
* * *
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Dymally]: Hannah-Beth, what are we asking, what are we saying to the Senate folks?
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: We want to know what your plan is what are you proposing? the reality is that when the Senate sends it over to us, it is going it is going to be a problem in 04-05. We want them to respect our input so that we can go out when we do get a budget .
* * *
Assemblymember Nunez: No. But, you know, theres a very responsible perspective to that, in that precipitating the crisis does not necessarily mean that -- if youre thinking about this is, the strategy for the 55 percent, all the polls, all the polls suggest that if you dont have a budget, that it lent itself to help support the effort for the 55 percent. Thats what the proponents say -CTA and the others - are saying about that. In addition, in terms of the recall, the extent to which the Governor can do a good job of making a connection between having no budget and the1
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Nunez]: Hannah-Beth, are you saying that if we dont take it to the point if we dont get more revenues, we do not support a budget that has an additional $1.5 billion worth of cuts. At least to start it off at the point of discussion
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: the question is how are they going to formulate the budget they are going to send over to us. Wheres the next $1.5 billion in cuts going to come from?
* * *
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Nunez]: I understand that, Hannah-Beth. My point is, given that we know we are not going to get new revenues the, is what were saying that we just want to have input as to where those cuts are going to be or are we saying we dont support cuts that deeply into this budget .
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: The question is, I think were looking at $1.5 billion worth of cuts
* * *
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Dymally]: Hannah-Beth, what are we asking, what are we saying to the Senate folks?
* * *
Assemblymember Jackson: We want to know what your plan is what are you proposing? the reality is that when the Senate sends it over to us, it is going it is going to be a problem in 04-05. We want them to respect our input so that we can go out when we do get a budget .
* * *
Assemblymember Nunez: No. But, you know, theres a very responsible perspective to that, in that precipitating the crisis does not necessarily mean that -- if youre thinking about this is, the strategy for the 55 percent, all the polls, all the polls suggest that if you dont have a budget, that it lent itself to help support the effort for the 55 percent. Thats what the proponents say -CTA and the others - are saying about that. In addition, in terms of the recall, the extent to which the Governor can do a good job of making a connection between having no budget and the2 Republican [inaud] on the recall -- I dont know if any of you have heard the Darrell Issa commercials on the radio, but theyre all about the budget. Its all about whats going on right now. Thats why he wants to be governor. And hes saying we dont have a budget because of Gray Davis. The folks that are heading up the anti-recall effort think if you dont have the budget, it helps Democrats in the recall effort. If you dont have a budget, it helps Democrats on the 55 percent. So if youre looking strictly at outcomes in terms of how were preparing and gearing ourselves to win the war on the 55 percent, there are, [inaud] I mean, theres
* * *
Assemblymember Goldberg: The question that I have, is that - and I go back to both 92 and to 78 - when people never saw what, they never got to see really up front and close what Prop 13 really did. Because what we did in education was is that teachers started subsidizing their classrooms, and we cut out art and we cut out music and we cut out drama and we cut out sports in some areas and, cut out tutoring and [inaud] teachers and we raised class size. And people thought: look, schools are all still open, this didnt hurt anyone. Some of us are thinking that maybe people should see the pain up close and personal, right now.
* * *
Assemblymember Goldberg: they are 10, 10, and 5 over there. Ten want to hold out for [inaud], ten want to [inaud], and five [inaud]. Were going to try and find out tomorrow where we are.
* * *
Assemblymember Goldberg: But we have to figure out what we do think. And I do think it has to be in line with two things, and thats one of the reasons that I asked Mr. Dymally to get us together. One is how it impacts the 55 percent proposition. And secondly whether or not - if theres going to be a crisis to happen - if theres going to be a crisis, whether it should be this year or next year, in terms of members of our House who want to get re-elected, in terms of members of our House who [inaud]. Personally, I think the crisis is better off this year than next year. But thats a discussion that I just want to make sure you have, and thats happens, and thats why [inaud]
* * *
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Laird]: to talk with her about the budget and see if thats the thing that we feel like those concerns have been removed and that its worked as a political strategy. If we got every Dem but Marco and Richman to go up on it, and suddenly I mean thats the first line that can be crossed in public. Politically, theres some statements. And if the Senate is about to send something worse, they might be in a better position and it might even force the out-year issue. I think thats a strategy worth taking a hard look at. And maybe an intermediate step is meeting with them to see if, strategy-wise, if that is something worth recommending to this group. And should we toss that out?
Assemblymember Goldberg: I will say that Canciamilla reported that Richman would not go for that budget. I hear that if it didnt include a commitment on workers comp -- 17200 and other structural needs.
Unidentified Assemblymember: So technically its (inaude)
Assemblymember Goldberg: So heres the question.
Unidentified Assemblymember: You said both of those and some other structure.
Assemblymember Dymally: Alan? Alan?
Assemblymember Jackson: We need to also keep in mind there is another factor here. Weve got a problem. Excuse me, but dont Mr. Brulte and Mr. Cox dislike each other? So, will Cox automatically accept a Brulte budget, or is there something else?
Unidentified Assemblymember: Thats another story
Assemblymember Jackson: Well, yes that is another story.
Unidentified Assemblymember [possibly Levine]: Its our story. Its our story. If were sitting there getting hit. At some point, the decision, as John said, has got to be 28 Republicans or 26 Dems; its really their budget. So, that more Republicans go up and yet the Cox/Brulte thing you know, they hate each other because I dont want to go up on that budget.
Assemblymember Goldberg: Yes
Assemblymember Laird: And whether its two of us who have less than 50 percent Dems in our district that have high green turnouts or something like that. You know (inaudible).
Assemblymember Goldberg: Its up to my successor ..
Unidentified Assemblymember: Yes, thats not where we need to be put up our budget. So, there needs to be a lot of Republicans up to give some people a pass and the Cox-Brulte thing is very much trouble.
Assemblymember Goldberg: That wont happen. I think its very unlikely that a Democrat will get a pass on any of these budgets. I just dont think thats going to happen. If I might just say, I think Allan and Patty both worked on that budget didnt you? I think it would be wonderful if we could find out in Canciamilla and Richman.
Unidentified Staffer: Excuse me, guys, you can be heard outside.
Assemblymember Goldberg: Oh, shit.
Unidentified Staffer: The squawk box is on you need to turn it off right there.
Assemblymember Goldberg: How could that happen?
http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=us&cat=democratic_party
Open Mic Catches California Democrats (AP) - Unaware that a live microphone was broadcasting their words around the Capitol, Assembly Democrats meeting behind closed doors debated prolonging California's budget crisis for political gain. Members of the coalition of liberal Democrats talked about slowing progress on the budget as a means of increasing pressure on Republicans. A microphone had been left on during the closed meeting Monday, and the conversation was transmitted to about 500 "squawk boxes" that enable staff members, lobbyists and reporters to listen in on legislative meetings. More...
|
If the discussion is going to harm military/business/court case etc. thats one thing. For deciding the people's budget, the microphone needs to stay on. This storyjust shows one of the reasons why.